RELATED AUDIO & VIDEO

The authorities cannot attribute the crisis to any particular illness in the community.

High numbers of acutely unwell patients over 70 are arriving at the hospital and all require admission.

It is the third time since last Friday that the hospital has asked people not to attend unless they have a genuine emergency.

Local INMO representative Mary Fogarty said the situation is completely unsafe for nurses and patients.

She said that cutbacks in community nursing services and home help services are now having an effect on the high numbers turning up at the emergency department in Limerick.

The hospital's chief executive, Ann Doherty, said the hospital seemed to be experiencing a pressure point it had not seen before.

Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, she said that while the rate of attendances at emergency departments is about the same year-on-year, the demand for patients who need to be admitted has increased over time.

Ms Doherty said the challenge of capacity across the midwest is being addressed.

She said there are plans to open new beds on the Dooradoyle site when the new critical care block is fully occupied.

Ms Doherty said six beds are already open on the Dooradoyle site and a full capacity of 21 beds will be available by the end of the year.

She also said there are ongoing talks about putting arrangements in place to open 20 beds in St John's Hospital over the coming days.